Seat construction



July 9, 1941. N. c. CLARK SEAT CONSTRUCTION Filed May 23, 1938 @"UUUUUINVENTOR. NOBLF. c. CLARK ATTORNEYEz Patented Juli29, 1941 UNITEDs'm'ras PATENT OFFICE.

. SEAT CONSTRUCTION Noble 0. Clark, Pleasant Rid e, Mich, asslgnor toThe Murray Corporation of America, Detroit, Micln, a corporation ofDelaware Application May 23, 1938, Serial No. 209,427

'7 Claims.

The present invention relates to seat constructions of the typeparticularly adapted for automobiles.

The present invention is particularly adapted for use'in seat cushionconstructions in which the spring load supporting surface is formed of aplurality of specially formed sinuous spring elements extendingsubstantially parallel to each other in a curved plane defining the loadsurface and secured at their ends to a border frame.

One of the primary objects of the present invention is to provide animproved and simplified base frame so constructed that a springconstruction may be readily attached thereto to thereby provide animproved seat cushion construction.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved and simplifiedbase frame which is light in weight and economical to manufacture.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved seatconstruction having a relatively deep front edge in combination with arubber covered spring surface, thereby providing a soft front edge in animproved manner.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved base frame ofsuch a construction that a spring load supporting means, which isadapted for use as a back or seat, may be readily positioned on andattached to the base frame to thereby provide an improved seat cushionconstruction.

Other objects of the invention will become apparent from the followingspecification, the drawing relating thereto, and from the claimshereinafter set forth.

In the drawing, in which like numerals are used to designate like partsof the several views throughout:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary top plan view of a seat cushion constructionembodying features of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a cross-Sectional view taken substantially along the line 2--2of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary cross-sectional View takensubstantially along the line 3-3 of Fig. 1,

Referring to the drawing, a seat cushion construction is illustratedwhich comprises a generally rectangular base frame member generallyindicated at it. The base frame member i0 is formed of a generallyU-shaped, sheet metal member l2 forming the front It, and substantialportions of the sides It of the base frame. Another U-shaped, sheetmetal member l8 forms the rear and portions of the sides 22 of the baseframe; and the forward edges of the sides 22 are inset as indicated at24 where they overlap and are joined to the rear edges of the sides Itof the U-shaped member l2. The U-shaped members l2 and It may be weldedtogether along their lines of juncture so that a substantially rigidbox-shaped base frame is provided. The members l2 and I! are flangedinwardly as indicated at "and 28, respectively, along the lower edgesthereof to further stiffen the frame. The upper edges of the members I2and I8 are also sloped upwardly and inwardly at 30 and 32, respectively,so that an inwardly and upwardly sloping supporting edge is providedcompletely around the base frame for a particular purpose which willbecome more apparent from the following detailed description.

The base frame I0 may be also supported upon a wooden frame member 34having front, side and rear edges which is of generally a shapecorresponding to the shape of the base frame adjacent the lower edgethereof, so that the flanges 25 and 28 may be suitably attached to theframe 35.

For the purpose of bracing the base frame, transversely extendingbracing members 36 of metal are provided which preferably extend acrossthe rear corners of the base frame between the front and rear edgesthereof and which may be suitably secured to the flanges 26 and 28 as bywelding or the like. The bracing members 36 may be stamped to providelongitudinally extending offset portions 38 which serve to stiffen thebracing members. Also the bracing members 3@ may extend rearwardlybeyond the rear edge of the base frame as indicated at 39 and providemeans whereby the base frame may be attached to the vehicle floor.

The base frame i0, as above constructed, is preferably deeper adjacentthe front than the rear thereof so that the seat cushion construction isdeeper at the front than the rear in accordance with the usual practice.

The base frame It is adapted to have supported thereon and attachedthereto a spring load supporting construction generally indicated at 40.The spring cushion construction 40 is generally of the character andconstruction as disclosed and claimed in the co-pending application ofClarence H. Menge, Serial No. 139,765, filed April 29, 1937. The springconstruction 40 is generally of the same shape as the shape of the baseframe adjacent theupper edge thereof and has a border frame 52 whichisformed of a sheet metal member of channel shape.

The surface of the spring construction 40 is composed of a plurality ofarcuately disposed, continuously bent spring elements 44 of the generaltype disclosed in the Kaden Patent No. 2,000,399. As disclosed in thispatent, the spring elements 44 are preferably formed of wire bent toprovide a series of similar adjacent lateral convolutions all lying insubstantially the same arcuate surface. After the spring wire has beenbent to the predetermined desired form, the spring elements arenormalized in order that they will have an inherent tendency to liealong arcs of substantially smaller radii than the arcs upon which theyare disposed when utilized in the construction of the seat cushion.

These spring elements 44 are cut to suitable desired length and aresevered at such a point that they provide a last lateral convolutionextending substantially transversely of the length of the springelements, which last lateral convolution is utilized to anchor the endsof the spring elements in position in the front and rear edges of theborder frame 42.

As disclosed in the Menge application a'bove referred to, the borderframe element 42 is formed of sheet metal of rolled section which mayconveniently be formed in continuous lengths. These border frameelements are generally of channel section with the walls of the channelcrimped together at spaced points 46 along the front and rear edges ofthe border frame, thus providing channels which are adapted to receiveand anchor the last lateral convolutions of the spring elements 44 inposition within the channels.

Since the spring elements making up the surface structure of the,cushion construction are all tensioned to lie along arcs ofsubstantially smaller radiusthan that on which they are disposed whenmounted in the cushion construction, there is an inherent tendency todraw the front and rear edges of the border frame together.Consequently, in order to brace the border frame 42 against this, it hasbeen found necessary and desirable to provide suitable transversebracing elements 50. The elements 50 are preferably transversely curvedlongitudinally thereof so as to stiffen the bracing element; and theends 52 are bent over the forward and rear edges of the border frame 42.The bent over portions 52 may be welded, or otherwise suitably secured,to the border frame element. The bracing elements 50 are preferablyarcuately disposed on an are directed away from the arc of the elements44 in order not to interfere with the function of the arcuately disposedsinuous spring elements 38.

A resilient padding member 56 which isprefably of sponge rubber isdisposed on the spring surface formed by the spring elements 44 so thata soft cushion is provided. Such a cushion provides a soft front edgewhen the spring construction is disposed on the base frame; and thesponge rubber member 56 may be disposed directly on the spring element44.

The spring construction 40 above described may be used either as a backcashion or as a seat cushion, and in the present invention, theconstruction '40 is adapted to seat upon and be attached to the baseframe ill. The border frame 42 is adapted to rest upon the inwardly andupwardly sloping flange portions 30 and 32 of the base frame completelyaround the base frame. By the upward and inward slope of the flanges 30and 32 the base frame 42 is accurately seated and cannot be displaced byany sidewlse movement of the cushion construction 40. In order toprovide for reception of the downwardly arced bracing members 50, theflanges 30 and 32 are bent downwardly as indicated at 60 at pointscorresponding to the positions of the bracin'g members 50 on the borderframe. The bent down portions 60 are substantially the same width as thewidth of the bracing members 50 so that the bent down portions providerecesses which serve to accurately position the spring construction onthe base frame and also serve to prevent displacement of the springconstruction relative to the base frame.

In order to attach the border frame 42 to the base frame 10 clips 62 arewelded to the flanges 30 and 32 at spaced points around the base framewhich when first applied to the base frame have upstanding portions 64.The upstanding portions 64 may then be bent over the border frame 42, asbest shown in Fig. 3, so that the border frame 42 and consequently thespring construction 40 is held in place on the base frame. While in theillustrated embodiment the clips 52 are illustrated as being separateelements attached to the base frame I 0, it is to be understood thatsuch clips could be provided by striking out similar portions from theflanges 30 and 32. In this event it would be preferable to provideadditional metal at these points so that the struck-out tabs would be ofsufficient length to envelope the border frame 42.

A finished material 10 may be disposed over the cushion 56 and carriedover the guides, front and rear of the base frame and tacked to thewooden frame member 34 in the usual way.

From the above it is evident that a simplified construction i providedwhich is particularly adapted for convenient assembly so that a springconstruction which may be used for either seat backs or seats may bereadily applied to a seat base frame. It is also evident that asimplified and improved base frame is provided which is rugged inconstruction and yet which is light in weight and economical tomanufacture.

Formal changes may be made in the specific embodiment of the inventiondescribed without departing from the spirit and substance of theinvention, the scope of which is commensurate with the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A seat cushion construction comprising a base frame formed of a pairof U-shaped sheet metal members joined together to form a box section ofgreater depth adjacent the front than the rear thereof, a border frameelement of a shape complementary to that of said base frame, elongatedspring elements disposed between and fixed to opposite sides of saidborder frame forming a spring surface, and means attaching said borderframe to said U-shaped members adjacent the upper edges thereof.

2. A seat cushion construction comprising a base frame formed of a pairof U-shaped sheet metal members Joined together to form a box section ofgreater depth adjacent the front than the rear thereof, the upper edgesof said U -shaped members being sloped upwardly and inwardly of saidbase frame to form a support, a border frame member of a shapecomplementary to the shape of said base frame, elongated spring elementsdisposed between and fixed to opposite sides of said border frame, saidborder frame being so shaped as to seat upon the upwardly and inwardlysloping portions of said base frame,

and means attaching said border frame to said base frame.

3. A seat cushion construction comprising a base frame formed of a pairof U-shaped sheet metal members joined together to form a box section ofgreater depth adjacent the front than the rear thereof, the upper edgesof said U- shaped members being sloped inwardly and upwardly of saidbase frame to form a support, a border frame member of a shapecomplementary to thatof said base frame, elongated zigzag springelements disposed between and fixed to opposite sides of said borderframe member forming a spring surface, bracing means extending betweensaid opposite sides of said border frame, said border frame being soshaped that it seats upon said inwardly and upwardly sloping portions ofsaid base frame, and means for attaching said border frame to said baseframe.

4. A seat cushion construction comprising a base frame formed of a pairof U-shaped sheet metal members joined together to form a box section ofgreater depth adjacent the front than the rear thereof, a border framemember of a shape complementary to that of said base frame, elongatedspring elements disposed between and fixed to opposite sides of saidborder frame forming a spring surface, means attaching said border frameto said base frame around the upper edge thereof, and a rubber paddingmember of substantial depth disposed on said elongated spring elementsproviding a resilient cushion.

5. A seat cushion construction comprising a base frame formed of apairof U-shaped sheet metal members joined together to form a box section ofgreater depth adjacent the front than the rear thereof, the upper edgesof said U- shaped member being inwardly directed to form a supportingsurface, a border frame. member of a shape complementary tothat of saidbase frame to which it is secured, elongated spring elements disposedbetween and fixed to opposite sides of said border frame member and setupon an upwardly directed bow forming a spring surface, downwardly bowedbracing members extending between said opposite sides of said borderframe and fixed thereto, said border frame being so shaped that it seatsupon said supporting surface and said surface being recessed adjacentsaid bracing members to receive said bracing members in said recesses tothereby prevent displacement of said border frame.

6. A seat cushion construction comprising a base frame formed of a pairof U-shaped sheet metal members joined together to form a box section ofgreater depth adjacent the front than the rear thereof, the upper edgesof said U- shaped member being inwardly and upwardly sloped to form asupporting surface, a border frame member of a shape complementary tothat of said base frame, means releasably securing said frame member tosaid base frame, elongated spring elements disposed between and fixed toopposite sides of said border frame member and set upon an upwardlydirected bow forming a spring surface, downwardly bowed bracing membersextending between said opposite sides of said border frame and fixedthereto, said border frame being so shaped that it seats upon saidsupportingsurface and said surface being recessed adjacent said bracingmembers to receive said. bracing members in said recesses to therebyprevent displacement of said border frame.

7. A seat cushion construction comprising a base frame formed of a pairof U-shaped sheet metal members joined together to form a. box sectionof greater depth adjacent the front than the rear thereof, the upperedges of said U- shaped member being inwardly and upwardly sloped toform a supporting surface, a border frame member of a shapecomplementary to that r of said base frame, elongatedspring elementsdisposed between and fixed'to opposite sides of said border. framemember and set upon an upwardly directed bow forming a spring surface,downwardly bowed bracing members extending between said opposite sidesof said border frame and fixed thereto, said border frame being soshaped that it seats upon said supporting surface, said surface beingrecessed adjacent. said bracing members to receive said bracing membersin said recesses to thereby prevent displacement of said border frame,and means attaching said border frame to said base frame.

NOBLE c. CLARK.

